Wednesday, June 29, 2011

So I've been a bit of a blog slacker but it's a good thing. My cuddle critter capes have taken flight and my sales have grown immensely so I've been crocheting like crazy. I'm so excited for the future of my business at this point and can't thank my wonderful fans and customers enough for your support.

Another exciting note - I got to meet up with a fabulous local photographer Christy Goodger of Goodger Photography. She isn't just any photographers. She is an amazing newborn photographer and honestly I'm more than thrilled to be working with her. You've got to check her work out! If you want pictures that you'll love for a lifetime she's totally worth it! If your local to the OKC metro- she has a darling studio in downtown Bethany, OK.

I'm working with another talented crocheter who has great resources for several photographers. She'll be making the props and getting them photographed for her and I. So if the photo's look familiar we are both using them with permission from the Photographers. I just love seeing these props in action!!

Here are two pics of the lovely Hatchling Turtle.

Looks so adorable on this little precious baby!

*please note do not copy, use or redistribute these images! It is a violation of copywrite!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Since starting to sell patterns for the cuddle critter capes my business has changed so so much for good. I'm so excited for how it's going and how much I think it's going to continue to grow. I couldn't do it with out the support of all my fabulous new fans and new friends. I've gotten so much great feedback and it just means the world to me. With that being said I want to give back to you with some fun games and prizes tonight on my facebook page.

We're going to have some picture tagging games and I have some discounts in store that will only run tonight. Have you had you eye on something in the Ready to ship albums - get ready to see even more of a discount. I'm also going to offer a discount on everything in my artfire shop but I won't share till tonight how much. ;)

Prizes so far I have in mind will be several free crochet patterns, several discount offers in increments of off your next purchase. I'm going to give a critter cape away out of my RTS album.

So come join the fun on facebook tonight. I realize some are in different timezones but I plan to spread it out from 7-10 or later central time.

It's Friday! Who's ready for the weekend? I have a cute little applique to share with you today. It's a simple balloon. These would be great to embellish party hats, crochet hats, or make a garland with them for a special party! I just thought they were fun. Here's the pattern:

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

I'm in a crafty mood today. Button earrings are soooo easy! I've had the supplies but not made time to do it. With lots of Patriotic Holiday's coming Calleigh will be wearing lots of Red, White and Blue so I thought I'd make her some "pretties" as she calls them.

Button Star Earrings

Materials:

Small Star buttons - got them at Hobby Lobby in a variety pack (4th of July section)
Earring posts and back findings
Small rhinestones - in any color :)
Hot Glue Gun and glue sticks-

Supplies!

Step 1: Plug in your glue gun...(lol) I always forget.

*Put a small dab of hot glue on to the earring posts then glue on the star buttons

Step 2: I don't like my hot glue to show. It's just s pet peeve of mine. Your going to put a small dab of glue on the rhinestone and glue it over the button holes.

That's it! There you go! super cute star earrings!

I couldn't get Calleigh to smile here she is wearing them.

I have a few other earrings I've been meaning to put backs on.

These are a few I crocheted a while back that needed the findings attached. Simple but cute. I got the idea from Mandy over at Mandipidy. Two are the basic circle and the pair on the far right are my twist on them.

Monday, June 13, 2011

My sweet hubby of Public Safety Survival Bracelets recently saw a photo of a hat made from paracord. He's been asking if I could crochet him a hat from it. So I decided to try. Well after just a couple rounds my fingers and wrists hurt. I crochet tight and there is no give or softness to it. So decided on a much smaller project. I made a bracelet in just a few short minutes. I think I surprise him with how fast I did it. I really like how it turned out and he did too! He even asked me to make another. So I thought what perfect timing with Father's Day coming up next Sunday, here is a quick project that a guy will like !

Paracord Cuff Bracelet

Here's what I used to make it:

Paracord - 14-15 feet We order our paracord online for his biz but there are a few random army supply shops and uniform shops around town that sell it by the foot for about 10-15 cents. If you're in OKC just ask and I can tell you were to get it. If not you may have to ask around and see where you can find it.

Shackle 3/8ths - you can get these at your local hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot. There about $3.00

N- Hook

You can make these anysize. You'll first want to get a wrist measurement. I would say about 7-8 inches is a regular size.

You're going to do a 11 sc chain-less foundation sts,{click link to see how to do chain-less foundation} ch 1 loosely {you'll need to be able to get the screw of the shackle through it} , sc in each of the chains on the opposite side of the bracelet. Join with a sl st to the 1st sc,

Weaving in ends is really hard so what my hubs usually does is tie off the two ends in a knot or two and melt the ends down with a lighter (be careful)

You'll slide the bigger part of the shackle through the end where we ended. Nowhere specific just through a few stitches. {you might have to stretch it a little}

That's it! If you want it bigger or smaller just add or decrease the foundation chains or change hook sizes.

We still want to be able to use it as a lifesaving bracelet and unravel it in time of need. Crochet is so super easy and fast to unravel if you need too! That's what these are all about. {you can read more about his shop in this post}

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

We'll seems like I am when it come to crocheting up new ideas lately! LOL ! Actually I'm referring to none other than Superman. I took a poll last night on my page for new ideas for my Cuddle Critter Cape Newborn Props. I suggested Fruits (strawberries, watermelons, apples, berries), flowers, and Superheros. Superheroes won that vote so I'm really glad I'd already started one and it motivated me to finished it up and write up the pattern late last night.

I had to do Superman first. ( I always refer to my hubs as my superman and my boy is little man) Are you ready to see a super cute picture?

Superman Cuddle Critter Cape

Newborn Photography prop

I'm totally loving this set! The cape features details as in a belt with loops and an emblem with the letter "S" I think it would be super cute it use a baby's initial if you're making it for someone special. For photographers I think you could use the "S" or leave it blank.

I couldn't decide what color to do the hat. I decided with blue and some simple accent stripes in contrasting colors but you could certainly get just a blue or red hat.

This pattern is in testing and should be available in the coming week.

All in all I just think it's super cute and I can't wait to make more superhero capes but I'm having trouble thinking of other heros? What would be some other fun heros? Please share you suggestions!

Monday, June 6, 2011

I finally finished up a much requested pattern for my new Cuddle Critter Cape Sets. Our newest is the Butterfly. She is just darling! Here are two examples but I have so many more ideas and possibilities for her.

This was my 1st. I went for a really girly butterfly with the pinks and purples.

This 2nd one is designed to resemble a Monarch. I just love how it turned out.

There aren't any wires or anything for the wings but the design of the wings gives it a curves shape so they shouldn't lay flat on the baby.

This next pattern is inspired my mom over at Posh Pooch Designs. She's been on a sock monkey craze! She has tons of sock money patterns you have to check them out! Here patterns are currently only available in Ravelry because she is moving from Oklahoma to Colorado this week. I sure will miss her being only an 1h 45 min away

This last collage is a sneak peak! This is the next set of capes I've designed. I wasn't going to get into "Characters" just because of Copywrites but my Photographer mentioned Minnie and Mickey to me so I thought I'd do it special for her because of the fabulous photos she's been sending me of my products! We'll just call these Cartoon Mice Inspired. ;) I'll be working on the patterns this week and Mickey and Minnie will come together in one pattern.

As always you can find these patterns on Ravelry for an instant download or in my Etsy shop